Slugs ‘dislike’ eating 20 plants which you can grow in UK gardens – see full list

It can be rather heartbreaking to discover that your garden has been overrun by slugs, with these pests known to destroy plants by demolishing seedlings and eating leaves. However, you can outsmart these pesky molluscs by opting for some slug-resistant plants.

Deterring slugs from your garden can be a rather time-consuming and sometimes expensive activity, with many methods not working completely, meaning you’ll likely still find slug damage to some of your plants. Instead, you can try growing plants that slugs are not attracted to, such as ones with toxic leaves, bitter tastes and thick foliage.

Here are 20 slug-repelling plants to grow suggested by Gardeners’ World’s, with the top five being recommended by gardender and broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh.

Alchemilla mollis (Lady’s mantle)

Alan’s first recommendation is the lady’s mantle, as he explains: “Scalloped-edged leaves, covered in fine, downy, silky hairs, and that I expect is what the slug doesn’t like when it gets in its teeth, so they tend not to eat it.”

Hellebores

Alan highlights that hellebores are rarely ever eaten by slugs, suggesting that they may, in fact, be toxic to the pests. He adds that after these plants have flowered and their leaves form, they’re even less likely to be eaten by slugs due to the leaves’ leathery texture.

Aquilegia

“Aquilegia has search delicate feathery foliage, and its surprising slugs and snails don’t touch, says Alan: “But they don’t.” This self-seeding plant can add a touch of beauty to your garden, all while avoiding being chopped to death by pesky slugs.

Penstemon

Penstemons are usually quite hardy, but can struggle during a particularly cold winter, with Alan suggesting place cuttings in a greenhouse if the temperatures do drop dramatically. While these pretty flowers are not completely immune to being damaged by slugs, they are less likely to be eaten by other popular plants. They also have the added benefit of bringing bees and other pollinators to your garden.

Ferns

The versatile fern can grow in almost any condition, from shady spots to cracks in walls, and its texture and strong nature make it particularly unattractive to slugs and snails.

Euphorbia

Euphorbia, or spurges as they’re commonly known, are another great choice for those looking to prevent slug damage in their garden. These plants have a milky sap that can irritate human skin and appears to be unpalatable to slugs and snails.

Cranesbill geraniums

Alan also highlighted the hardy geranium as a slug-resistant plant. While geraniums grow well in shady spots, which slugs and snails love, their tough nature makes them undesirable for these pests.

Ajuga reptans (Bugleherb)

The Bugleherb is known for its dense foliage, which makes it rather unattractive to slugs. The pros at Gardeners’ World add: “Ajuga is a versatile plant, equally at home as ground cover under trees or shrubs as in a sunny flower border and even in containers. It’s especially useful as background foliage in winter containers of ivies, santolina and pansies.”

Foxglove

“Foxglove leaves contain the toxin digoxin, which is used in heart medicine but can also kill a person if taken in the wrong dose,” writes the experts. “These toxins also appear to be harmful to slugs and snails, as they avoid eating the leaves.”

Astrantia

Astrantia is a must-have for any gardener hoping to attract bees and other pollinators. It also has the added benefit of slug resistance, with these pests known to avoid the astrantia’s leaves.

Japanese anemone

The rough leaves and unpalatable taste of the Japanese anemone make it unattractive to slugs, snails, and rabbits. However, Alan warns that these flowers can be invasive in some soils, and advises growing them in a container if you have a particularly small garden.

Astilbe

Astilbe, or false goat’s beard, is a great slug-resistant plant that can be placed in shaded areas, where these pests tend to congregate. This low-maintenance plant is also know to be resistance to other pests, and even some diseases, making it a great hardy option for any garden.

Lavender

While humans may love the smell and sight of the lavender plant, this isn’t the case for slugs, who hate their oily and unpalatable leaves. Not only will these flowers avoid being attacked by slugs, they’ll also leave your garden smelling and looking amazing.

Campanula (Bellflowers)

Bellflowers are another pretty flower that isn’t just good for how they’ll make your garden look. Their leaves are another that slugs prefer to avoid.

Heuchera (Coral bells)

While young, the leaves of the heuchera can be attractive to slugs, as the plants age, they will become increasingly resistant to them. Heucheras are typically grown for their foliage rather than their flowers and can come in a range of colours, making them a stunning addition to any garden.

Crocosmia

Also known as coppertips and even ‘Lucifer’, the crocosmia’s bright red and orange flowers attract numerous pollinators and even provide a burst of late pollen. Their sword-shaped leaves are rather thick and robust, which makes then a rather difficult plant for slugs to eat.

Cyclamen

The petite and hardy cyclamen, which typically bloom in early spring and late autumn, are not a preferred food for slugs. Some of these flowers also have a scent that proves unattractive to these pests.

Fuchsias

Fuchsias are a great choice for deterring slugs from your garden. However, you should be sure to watch out for vine weevils and fuchsia gall midges, which have been known to infect the plants’ buds.

Nasturtiums

Revealing the nasturtium’s slug-resistant nature, the pros explains: “Its leaves are extremely water-resistant, and while they’re a popular foodplant of large and small white butterflies, slugs and snails won’t eat them.”